Dishwashing machine having an extensible rotary brush for receptacles



' Fi1 ec 1 Feb. 1, 1945 Dec. 5, 1950 L. A. LOEB DISHWASHING MA I HAVING AN EXTENSIBLE ROTARY B 7 0R RECEPTACLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 5, 1950 L. A. LOEB 2,532,925

DISK- WASHING MACHINE HAVING AN EXTENSIBLE ROTARY BRUSH FOR RECEPTACLES Filed Feb. 1, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 5, 1950 DISHWASHING ROTARY L. A. LO MACHINE HAVING AN EXTENSIBLE BRUSH FOR RECEPTACLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 1, 1945 Dec. 5, 1950 L. A LOEB 2,532,925

DISHWASHING MA HAVING AN ENSIBLE ROTARY BR 0R RECEPTA S Filed Feb. 1, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 DISHWASHI NG MACHINE HAVING AN EX- TENSIBLE ROTARY BRUSH FOR RECEP- TACLES Lawrence Anathan Loeb, New Haven, Conn.

Application February 1, 1945', Serial No. 575,651

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for washing dishes or the like, and relates to means whereby the usefulness of the device may be improved, and its operations extended to articles which must ordinarily be cleaned by hand.

Reference is made particularly to cooking ves- ;sels.such as pans and other utensils which are very difficult to'clean, and which ordinarily cannot be cleaned by merely spraying water upon them; as' is done in the usual dishwashing m..- chine. Foreignmatter clings very tightly to such utensils, and normally they must be scrubbed with-a brushor'cleaned by hand.

I contemplate by my invention the provision .of a'cleaning or scrubbing brush which may or may not' be' detachably secured to the agitator or-rotor so as to ?be rotated thereby when in use, -.andreadily' removed :from its operative position when-its use is not desired. Further, I provide means :for supporting the utensils within the machine in proper position with relation to-the brush, and for iyieldingly holding these vessels .againstth'e bristles rofthe'biush so that the desired amount of :pressure 'may be present between the utensil and'the'bristles to efiect proper cleaning action.

As is well known, utensils of this character are Of'Varimis :dimensions. and it is necessary -that :the bristles 'of the rotating brush --reach every part thereof. In order to efiect this result I have =:provided:'a brush which is laterally extensible, so that iit-will be extended by the aetion-ofvcentrifugal force to reach the sides of theutnsiL-regafdless of ,the dimensions thereof, Within the limits of the device.

One :object of the invention is to provide a newiand-improvd dishwashing machine having means for cleaning cooking utensils and=the like. A further-object of the invention is to provide a dishwashing machine having secured to the rotor ithereoi a-cle'aning or scrubbing'brush to be' rotated by the rotor-,and means for yieldably 'holdingthe utensils'in proper positionwith relation I to'the brush.

-still fiirthei-fobject of the invention is to provide a disl-l w'ashingiria'chine of the character described, :wherein the brush will 'be laterally expanslble-"or extensible, so thatit may accommodate itself to uteh'sils of various dimensions.

#stii1another object of the invention is to prohas a dishwas ng=-mamee of the character described "provided-with a rotatable scrubbing brush. -Whibh brush will be yieldably -inountecl 2 whereby it may operate at different heights with respect to the fixed parts-of the machine to accommodate itself to utensils of variousdepths.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of -pa-r.ts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional View of a dishwashing machine embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a top elevational view of the brush employed in the machine;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view online 3-3 of Fig. 4 is a sectional viewon line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar toF-ig. 1, showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a top planview of the brush of Fig.5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on line l'l of Fig. 6.;

Fig. 8 is a view of a further modificationparticularly relating to the connection of thebrush stem with the rotor;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a dishwashingmachine showing a still further modified form of construction;

Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 9 for holding the utensils upon the brush;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View on line Il-Il of Fig.'10;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of abrush of modified form; V

Fig. 13 is a sectional view substantially on line l3-l3 of Fig. '12;

Fig. 1% is an elevational view partly in section of a modified form of brush;

Fig. 15 is a plan view'of the brush shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a'brush showing a further modification;

Fig. 17 is a sectional View on line ll-l'l of Fig. 1G; and

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of a brush showing a further modification.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown a dishwashing machine comprising a tank ill having a bottom portion l! through which extends the shaft E2 of an operating motor vl3. Upon the upper end ofthe shaft l2 and within the tank is a rotor, or agitator l4, and-in the lower portion of the tankisa dish rack designated generally by thenumeral 15, the dish rack being provided with a plurality of upstanding'spaced elements it between which dishes such as plates, saucers or the likeinay be placed on edge for the usual Washing operation.

These elements, it may be noted, are usually spaced in a more or less circular arrangement, leaving an opening in the center between them. It will be understood that the details of the dishwashing machine above described are not of importance in all aspects of the invention, as my improvements may be applied to dishwashing machines not provided with elements identical with those illustrated.

Projecting upwardly from the rotor I4 and secured thereto is a sleeve I? to which the stem 18 of a washing or scrubbing brush means is secured by means of a bayonet joint connection I9 comprising the usual L-shaped slot and pin. It will be apparent that the stem 1 8 and the brush means carried thereby, as will be hereinafter described, may be readily removed from the sleeve I! when desired, and just as readily replaced. It will also be understood that the bayonet joint will be so disposed with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor that the stem will not tend to become disengaged from the sleeve.

The brush means includes a head 29 secured to the upper end of the stem l8, which head comprises a pair of substantially parallel channel portions 2| having slidably mounted therein bristle-supporting members 22 of L-shaped form, these members having end portions or arms 23 projecting downwardly from the brush head, one at each end thereof.

In the bottom portions of the channels 2| are arranged slots 24 which slidabl receive pins 25 secured to the brush-supporting elements 22 so that these elements will be retained in the channels although permitted to slide longitudinally thereof. Upon the bristle-supporting elements 22 are provided bristles 26 which not only project upwardly from these elements but also project laterally from the depending arms 23 thereof, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4. It will be seen, therefore, that ther is provided a washing or scrubbing brush having both upwardly and laterally extending bristles so as to engage both the side walls and the bottoms of receptacles such as the receptacle 28 held in inverted position thereon.

As has been previously stated, the bristle-supporting elements 22 are slidably mounted on the brush head 20 so that they may move laterally away from the center of rotation of stem l8, and thus the brush is expansible or extensible to accommodate utensils of various dimensions. Under the action of centrifugal force these bristlesupporting elements will each be drawn outwardly against the side Walls of the utensil 28, shown in Fig. 1, and as shown in dotted-line position in Fig. 2. In order that the brush will normally be in a contracted position, light springs 30 are connected to the inner ends of the bristlecarrying elements 22 and to the bottoms of the channels 2| of the brush head 2!], which springs normally act in a direction to draw each of the elements 22 inwardly and maintain the depending arms 23 toward the ends of the brush head 20. While these springs will be sufliciently strong to hold the bristle-supporting elements inwardly when the brush is at rest, the tension of the springs will be overcome by the action of centrifugal force when the rotor is in operation so that the brush will expand and thus reach the sides of the utensil 28.

The utensil 28 will normally rest against the inner surfaces of the member I 6 or upon the shoulders 3! formed at the inner ends of these members, depending, of course, upon the size, of.

the utensil. In order that it may be held against the brushes yieldably, but with sufficient force, so that a thorough scrubbing action will be ob-- tained, I have provided, in this form of my invention, resilient strap members to exert a downward force upon the utensils. These strap members comprise body portions 33 and inwardly bowed end portions 34 having at their inner free ends shoes 35 to contact the edge of the bottom of the utensil and exert a downward force thereon. These strap members ma be held in position by being slidably received between clips or holders 36 secured to the wall of the tank and the wall itself.

It will be understood that these holding members are resilient and that the inwardly bowed ends will tend to stand in the same plane as the body portions 33 and that the latter may be moved freely upwardly and downwardly through the holders 36. Thus, to release the utensil 28- shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to raise the portions 33 of these straps upwardly with respect to the holders 36, thus disengaging the shoes 3% from the utensil, whereupon the bowed ends will, when released, swing downwardly more or less in line with the body portions 33. A reverse of this movement is all that is required to seat the shoes 35 upon the utensil when one is placed in the machine. The inherent resilience of the members 34 will exert a downward yieldable pressure upon the utensil so as to hold it against the bristles. The-latter will, of course, be yieldable to some extent, and, by this arrangement, an efficient scrubbing action will be obtained over the entire surface of the utensil.

In Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings I have shown a somewhat modified form of my invention in which the sleeve 49 secured to the rotor is hollow and designed to receive the stem 4! secured to the brush head 42, a spring 43 being disposed in the sleeve below the stem 4| so as to exert an upward pressure upon the stem and thus tend to force the brush upwardly against the bottom of the utensil 23. The sleeve may be provided with oppositely disposed slots 44 openin through the upper end thereof to receive a pin 45 secured to the stem 4| so as to connect the stem nonrotatabl'y to the sleeve. A cap 46 may be threaded upon the upper end of the sleeve to prevent the pin 45 from being forced out of the upper end of the slots by the spring.

The brush head 42 in this form ofmy invention is of slightly different form from that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in that the head i provided with a pair of longitudinally extending chambers 48 and 49, which chambers are closed at their sides except for slots 50 and 5| in their upper faces through which extend the bristles 52 attached to the bristle-supporting elements 53 which are slidably mounted in the chambers 48 and 49. By providing the slots 58 and 5! so that the edges of the slots overhang the bristle-supporting elements 53, I can eliminate the slots 24 and pins 25 shown in Fig. 3. Springs 54 are secured to the bristle-supporting elements 53 to hold them in contracted position as previously explained, and it will be understood that the operation of the parts thus far described is the same as that of the corresponding parts shown and described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings.

Also in this form of my invention I have a modified arrangement for holdingthe utensil 28 in position. In this case a plurality of cylinders 55 are pivoted at 56 to the side wall of the tank,

and, within each of these cylinders, is a plunger ase -oat "rod 51 urged'outwardly by-"a compression spring 58. 'Theseplungerrods carry-shoes!!! which will "engage the periphery of the bottom of-"the utensil it toward a the bristles 52 'of "water which might "enter through the slots when the device is in operation. I I I I In Fig, 8 of the drawings' I h'ave shown -a-n 1odi- "i'ie'd form for connecting -the-brush stem to the "rotor. 'As'here illustrated fan upwardly projecting sleeve BI is secured to the rotor, which sleeve is hollow to receive; the stem lil 'of the brush. This stem is provided with a laterally proje ing pin '63 to be received in an L-shaped slot 6'4 in thesleeve '61, The slot 64 however, is extended downwardly, 'as 'shown at 65, for a considerable distance so thatafterthepinfis registerswith the portion 65 of the slot, it may-have a considerable range of vertical movement depending upon tliepress-ureexerted on the bristles of the brush by the utensil. The stem 62 and brush supported i thereon are held in an upward position by a compression spring 66 so that the brush bristles will be urged toward the bottom of the utensils ref'gardless 'offthe height "or dep'thfof the utensil.

"Th'e'sl'eey's Bl mayalsobe provided with the drain I opening 6! to permit 'water'to drain therefrom.

In Figs. 9, l0 and 11 of'the drawings I have shown'a modified arrangement for holding the utensil in proper engagement with the bristlespt the brush, As'illustr'ated, an'arm ll! is'pivoted at H toa luglz secured to thewall of the tank, this arm extending to a position adjacent the "centerbf'the tankan'd'having pivotedfto its inher end at is a rod M. To the lower end of this rod -is secured a disk-shaped member spaced from the lower end of the rod by-a sleeve 76. the member 15 having a plurality of openings 1? therein to receive and support resilient wires '53. The ends of these wires may beheaded over, as shown at E9, andcompression-springs so disposed between these heads and the members lii to hold these wires in upper positions and also exert friction the eon so that they will not swing freely in the member 1'5. The heads J9 may be extended laterally as shown in Fig. 11 so as to fit into a recess 19 formed in the rod 54, so that the wires 18 will be yieldably held against rotation about their axes when they are in their operative positions.

A sleeve 8| is slidably mounted on the rod 14 and enjoys an up-and-down movement thereon as limited by the pin 82 secured to the rod 14 and the slot 83 provided in the sleeve 8!. At its lower end. this sleeve is provided with a plurality of recesses E i adapted to receive the wires 7'8 and i i 'o tiens r'as oothe wires will be rawn 111:0-

gfether p-the p an and exert a-certain amount of 1 down "fd pressure-thereon. I

' When notdesir'ed to usethe brush, the arm reism'ov d upw'ardly against the wall ofthe receptacle aiid retained in' this position by the clip 87, where'the parts will be in an out-of-the-way position for the usual dishwashing operation.

When in this position the sleeve 8| maybe moved upwardly, and the wires BB'in-a'y be readily sprung inwardly out of the notches orre'cesses '84, whereupon these wires may then be folded together *against the wall of the tank, the wires rotating'in "the openings "H. When it is'desir'e'd again to use the part 10, 1 4 and wires 85, the latter are merely rotated by hand in the openings 11 until they again register with'the notches 8 whereupon they will be held in their proper spread-apart positions to engage a utensil placed over the brush. I I I I V I Aspring'fit secured at one endto the eirr'n'TU and atthe other end to a bracket 89 's'ecured'to the wallet the tank In W111 act in the position shown in Fig, 9 tourge the arm TU downwardly and hold the members '18 against the utensil being cleaned and also urge the utensil downwIardly against the bristles of the brulsh, When,-however, the arm m is'swung upwardly into engage- "ment with the clip 81, the spring"88 willpass to the other side of the pivotpoint 1 l and will then act to hold the arm in raisedposition so that the cli may be dispensed with if desired. 7 I I In Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings I have shown a brush similar to'that illustrated in Figs. lto 4,

except thatthe verticalarm 90 of the brushis articulated and is composed of several sections 9!, each carrying laterally extending bristles-92.

These sections are provided with cooperating ribs and recesses Q4 and are held in assembled'r'elati'on by a spring acting against the lower secand recesses 94, the bristles will be resiliently held in their o erative positions shown in Fig. 12. However, if the utensil to bewashed is a very shallow one with a shallow sidewall, some of the sections -91 may be rotated through an angle of or "from the full-line positions of Fig. 12to the dotted-line positions shown in that figure. They will then be out of the way as they will be pointed inwardly toward the axis of the brush. If, however, the utensil is a deep one, as many of the sections 9! may be turned outwardl as is required to cover the surface of the side wall of the utensil.

In Fi s. 14 and 15 of the drawings I have shown one section of a similar brush in which the bristles are resiliently mounted so as to be spring pressed outwardly. The bristle-supporting member I00 which carries the vertically disposed bristles Hill is provided with sockets 92 in which are mounted compression springs !93 urging upwardly the bristle bases HM. These bases are prevented from being expelled from the sockets by the plate H35, this plate having openings through which the bristles extend but which will not receive the base 104.

Secured to the end of the bristle support N10 is a vertically extending bristle support I06 having laterally projecting bristles lo! supported in the same manner as the bristles 10!. This vertically extending bristle support is also articulated and comprises a number of sections I08 resiliently V held in their operative positions by the pin I09 and spring I In. It will, of course, be obvious that the sections I08 may be reversed about the pin I09 when it is not desired to employ all of them, this reversal being as described in connection with the brush shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

In Figs. 16 and 17 of the drawings I have shown, a brush provided With a horizontal section Ill and an articulated vertical section H2, the latter being pivoted to the section II! by the pivot pin H3. This pin passes through the arms H4 and H5 of a U-shaped yoke secured to the section 112, these arms embracing the supporting member Hi. The arm H5 is provided on its inner surface with a plurality of radial valleys H6 in which is adapted to seat a rib H1 provided upon the member Ill, and the pin H3 is resiliently urged to the right as shown in Fig. 17 by the spring-l 18.

It may be desired to swing th section H2 outwardly about the pivot H3 in order to accommodate utensils with flaring instead of straight sides. With this construction, the section H2 may be swung outwardly from its fulliine position shown in Fig. 16 to a position shown H in dotted lines. It will be seen that the spring Hi3 will permit the arm H5 to swing away from the section Ill so as to clear the rib H7 and seat this rib in another of the radial valleys H6. in Fig. 16, it will be appreciated that any number of such positions are provided according to the number of radial valleys H6 in the arm H5.

In Fig. 18 of the drawings I have shown a sectional view of a bristle-supporting member E20 provided with a socket [2! in which is slidably mounted a bristle base 122 carrying bristles 123. A tension spring 124 tends to retract the base I22 within the socket i2! so as to contract the width of the brush, this arrangement being provided on the laterally extending bristles such,

for example, as the bristles 16's shown in Fig.

centrifugal force to overcome that of the spring While only one adjusted position is shown While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation Within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claim.

What I claim is:

A dishwashing machine comprising a tank, a rotatable agitator therein, a stem secured to the agitator and extending upwardly therefrom, a brush head secured to the stem and extending transversely thereto, a pair of L-shaped bristlecarrying members, said head being provided with parallel open-ended guideways, one arm of each of said head members being slidably received in one of said guideways, the other arm of each of said members dependingndownwardly from the head and having outwardly facing bristles thereon, said members being moved outwardly by centrifugal force upon rotation of the agitator, and means normally urging said depending arms toward the stem, the first-named arm of one member overlapping the corresponding arm of the other member and said overlapping arms having upwardly directed bristles thereon.

LAWRENCE ANATHAN LOEB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 491,374 Robinson Feb. 7, 1893 602,190 Evans Apr. 12, 1898 1,092,924 Lundeen Apr. 14, 1914 1,111,624 Thorpe Sept. 22, 1914 1,241,203 Drozdz Sept. 25, 1917 1,275,025 Herr Aug. 6, 1918 1,755,444 Phillip June 24, 1930 2,022,220 Snyder Nov. 26, 1935 2,156,949 Klinger May 2, 1939 2,246,618 Cochran June 24, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 37,228 Switzerland June 21, 1906 678 Great Britain Feb. 12, 1914 975,597 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1923 710,071 France Aug. 18, 1931 419,416 Great Britain Nov. 12, 1934 

